NC H602

Establishes legal protections for infants born alive during or after an abortion, declaring them legal persons entitled to all North Carolina law protections.

Requires health care practitioners present at a live birth resulting from an abortion to exercise professional skill and care to preserve the infant's life and health, and to ensure immediate transport and admission to a hospital.

Mandates that health care practitioners and employees of hospitals, physician's offices, or abortion clinics report any failure to comply with these requirements to law enforcement agencies.

Establishes criminal penalties including Class D felony charges with fines up to $250,000 for violations, and murder charges under G.S. 14-17(c) for intentional acts that kill a born-alive infant.

Allows civil remedies for the mother, including objectively verifiable damages, statutory damages equal to three times the abortion cost, punitive damages, and reasonable attorneys' fees; exempts mothers from criminal prosecution under these provisions.

Becomes effective December 1, 2019, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.